Inside San Francisco (Aug 19th, 2016)

Devon Warner, a member of the city’s bicycle advisory committee, is asking the Public Works Department to wait one more year before dismantling memorials for deceased cyclists. “Ghost bikes,” as they are called, are typically spray-painted white and placed at sites where cyclists pass away in accidents. "If it's a piece of art or if it's something that doesn't require a lot of maintenance, maybe here is some common ground to see what's reasonable," said Mohammed Nuru of the San Francisco Public Works Department. – ABC7

Charges against a 60-year-old man suspected of making a racist threat against acting San Francisco Police Chief Toney Chaplin have been dropped. Donald Eric Hoganson allegedly used the Twitter account, @BethesdaSavior, to call for the beheading of Chaplin. The page also promoted white supremacy and hosted images of lynchings. A San Francisco judge found insufficient evidence to charge him with any crime. – SFC

American armorer Matthew Porter, a member of the U.S. Olympics fencing team, has lost his house in Lower Lake due to the Clayton Fire. His wife, Karen Porter, was forced to flee the home with only the clothes on her back and their pets. “What a way to finish there,” said Porter. His responsibility at the Games was to take care of the weaponry for the 17 American fencers. – SFC

“Hamilton” will be coming to San Francisco for a 21-week run in San Francisco next year. It will eventually move to Los Angeles before looking abroad to London. Tony Award nominee Joshua Henry was recently selected to play Aaron Burr in the Chicago production of “Hamilton” when it debuts in the city this fall. – AP

Are you excited for “Hamilton” to come to San Francisco? Will you be hunting for tickets, or is it not worth the hassle? Hit REPLY and let us know your thoughts.

The Great America amusement park plans to open its first floorless roller coaster next year. Named the Patriot, the coaster will take riders 91 feet into the air before dropping them into a 360-degree loop at 45 miles per hour. Unlike most dangling-leg coasters, which hang riders down from a track above them, the Patriot's track will be situated beneath them. This may provide a different sensation than other floorless rides. – MERCURY

San Francisco quarterback Colin Kaepernick will sit out due to injury when the 49ers play the Denver Broncos this Saturday, heightening the quarterback battle in camp. This will be the second straight preseason game Kaepernick has missed, and his competitor Blaine Gabbert will get the start this weekend. The 49ers recently signed quarterback Christian Ponder as a backup to Gabbert and Kaepernick, who are vying for the starting job. – UPI

ON TRUMP STATUES

Yesterday, images of Donald Trump statues placed in San Francisco, New York, Los Angeles, Cleveland and Seattle went viral as locals gawked at the art, titled, “The Emperor Has No B*lls.” In San Francisco, the Department of Public Works made plans to remove the statue, as a permit had not been issued for it to be on display.

A self-described anarchist group called INDECLINE claimed responsibilities for the statues, which show Trump nude.

“My heroes today are INDECLINE who erected nude statues of The Donald in various American cities,” said film director Terry Gilliam on Twitter.

Josh Butler, an associate editor for the Huffington Post, said on Twitter that the statue in New York City had been a PokeStop for Pokemon GO players at one point.

Some of the words passersby in San Francisco used to describe the statue included “creative,” “impactful,” and “misdirected.”

What do you think about the statues that went up in cities across the country? Aside from the nudity, what else do you find offensive about them? Or do you accept them as art? Hit REPLY and let us know your thoughts.

For Tony Bennett Fans: Tony Bennett will perform “I Left My Heart in San Francisco” for fans in honor of his 90th birthday at AT&T Park before the New York Mets vs. San Francisco Giants game (7:15 p.m.) on Friday, Aug. 19. Tickets for the game, which includes access to the pre-game ceremony where Bennett will sing, start at approximately $200.00. “Bennett may actually be the only touring artist in the world who really is like a fine wine, getting better with old age.” – Piet Levy, Journal Sentinel

A Taste of the American West: Ed Ruscha’s “Great American West” exhibit is on display at the Legion of Honor (100 34th Avenue, San Francisco) through October. The exhibit includes 80 works that reflect the culture of the American West. Tickets cost $22.00 for adults. Energetic, witty, refreshing and engaging, ‘Ed Ruscha and the Great American West’ exemplifies Ruscha’s artistic style, which combines his unique version of Pop and Conceptual Art with commentary on the condition of the American West.” – Emily Mendel, Culture Vulture

For Budding Entrepreneurs: The Silicon Valley Entrepreneurship and Innovation Summit (1172 Castro Street Mountain View) is being held on Saturday, Aug. 20 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Industry experts will be meeting to discuss venture capital trends and provide startup insights. General admission tickets are $100.00

CRIME ROUND-UP

A man has been shot and killed in southwest Berkeley, marking the first homicide of the year for the city. Police said they found the man around midnight on Thursday near Mabel and Burnett streets.

Kam Moy, 64, was pronounceddead on Wednesday after being rescued from the waves at Ocean Beach. She was revived on shore via CPR, but died at the hospital. This is the second death of the week at the beach.

A 34-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murdering a man in the Tenderloin in March. The suspect, Latont Hutchins, is accused of stabbing 41-year-old Donnie Smith after attempting to break up a fight.